Joyce T. Strand's Blog, page 31

What the Experts Say: "Making a Make-Believe World Believable" by Epic Fantasy Author Jamie Marchant

Jamie Marchant, Author
THE GODDESS'S CHOICE Epic Fantasy Author Jamie Marchant introduces the world of  Korthlundia in THE GODDESS’S CHOICE – a sword and sorcery novel based on a Norwegian fairy tale. However, Jamie found it annoying that the female character was basically snubbed in the fairy tale. So she re-invented the crown princess as a strong heroine. As you'll read in her following article, she believes characters are a critical component of pulling readers into a make-believe world.

Jamie teaches writing and literature at Auburn University and lives with her husband, son, and four cats in Auburn, Alabama.  
Making a Make-Believe World BelievableBy Jamie Marchant
Fantasy literature transports you from the mundane world into the strange and the magical. How does it do this? By making that world believable, in its setting, its use of magic, and in its characters. To transport you, the fantasy world must be as complex and rich as reality. While I don’t like works that give long lectures on the history and geography, a sense of both must be present in the fantasy world—this sense preferably arising naturally from the needs of the plot and unfolding bit by bit. For example, in THE GODDESS'S CHOICE the way we learn about the longstanding animosity and history of warfare between Korth and Lundia is through the king’s pressure on the crown princess Samantha to marry. King Solar believes her marriage is necessary to maintain the fragile peace between the joined kingdoms. The history and culture of the joined kingdoms flow from and enhance the story’s central conflict
Magic is an essential element of fantasy; yet to be believable, any system of magic must be both consistent and limited in scope. When the limitations on the wizard or sorcerer are clearly established, tension builds as he or she must work within those limits. The existence of magic doesn’t allow the writer to cheat. My hero’s Robbie’s magic lies in the ability to connect to the mind and body of another. It only works on living things. He can’t suddenly have the ability to warp metal even though that would be convenient. The use of his magic also depletes him physically, so he must be wise in its use. His strength is also his vulnerability.
For me, the most important element in creating a believable fantasy world lies in the characters. A believable world must be peopled with believable characters. In reality, few people are without flaws, but few are so bad that they have no redeeming qualities. Fantasy characters must be equally complex. Heroes must not be completely virtuous, and villains at least need sound motives for their villainy. Robbie is burdened with anger, and Samantha is headstrong and somewhat insensitive. On the other hand, Argblutal believes (with some justification) the throne is rightfully his and that he’d be a better king than a eighteen-year-old girl. When I read a novel, if I can believe a writer’s characters, I can forgive other inconsistencies with the work, but if I cannot believe the characters, nothing else the writer does can redeem the story. Depth of character is the key to believability in the make-believe world of fantasy.
Author Bio
Jamie Marchant lives in Auburn, Alabama, with her husband, son, and four cats, which (or so she's been told) officially makes her a cat lady. She teaches writing and literature at Auburn University.

Her first novel THE GODDESS'S CHOICE was released in April 2012 from Reliquary Press. She is working on the sequel, tentatively titled The Soul Stone. Her short fiction has been published in Bards & Sages, The World of Myth, and Short-story.me.
THE GODDESS’S CHOICE Blurb
The crown princess Samantha fears she’s mad; no one but she sees colors glowing around people. The peasant Robrek Angusstamm believes he’s a demon; animals speak to him, and his healing powers far outstrip those of his village’s priests. Despite their fears, their combined powers make them the goddess’s choice to rule the kingdom of Korthlundia.
In Marchant's sword and sorcery novel, THE GODDESS'S CHOICE, Samantha’s ability enables her to discern a person’s character through their multi-colored aura, and Robrek’s makes him the strongest healer the kingdom has seen in centuries. But their gifts also endanger their lives. Royals scheme to usurp the throne by marrying or killing Samantha, and priests plot to burn Robrek at the stake. Robrek escapes the priests only to be captured by Samantha’s arch-enemy, Duke Argblutal; Argblutal intends to force the princess to marry him by exploiting Robrek’s powers. To save their own lives and stop the realm from sinking into civil war, Robrek and Samantha must consolidate their powers and unite the people behind them.
THE GODDESS'S CHOICE  is based on a Norwegian fairy tale, “The Princess and the Glass Hill.” Though Marchant's favorite fairy tale as a child, it disturbed her that the female character has no name and no role other than being handed off as a prize. Her novel remakes the crown princess of Korthlundia into a strong heroine who is every bit as likely to be the rescuer as the one rescued.
Book Excerpt
Chapter 2            The Princess Samantha sat at her dressing table and glowered at her reflection as her maids dressed her hair. She detested balls and loathed the hundreds of suitors who flocked around her, spouting empty flattery: “I have never seen a lovelier flower, Your Highness!” or “Your eyes rival the brilliance of the stars, Your Highness!” If I hear that one again, I’ll vomit. It wouldn’t be quite so bad if even one of them meant it. Sometimes she wished . . . She pushed the thought away. She was the heir to the throne. She couldn’t expect romance.
            "Let us be painting your face tonight, Your Highness!" Ardra begged, in her north Korthian accent. Samantha's maid was as small and slight as the princess herself and had hair so blonde it was almost white.“Yes, Your Highness,” Malvina chimed in. “Lady Shela’s maids said just yesterday we couldn’t possibly know our business ‘cause you never wear paint.” Malvina, more of a typical Korthlundian woman, was tall and broad and not nearly as pretty as Ardra.“Lady Shela,” Samantha snorted in disgust. Shela wore so much paint she resembled some ghastly sea creature. Samantha knew she wasn’t pretty, but she was fond of the freckles that speckled her nose and thought the emerald green brilliance of her gown set off her white skin and auburn hair beautifully. Besides being appallingly uncomfortable, paint would absolutely spoil the effect. The princess gestured toward the huge portrait that covered one wall of her bedchamber. “Do you think Danu wore paint?” Malvina shrugged. “The Princess Danu was said to be a powerful sorceress, Your Highness. She probably didn’t need to wear paint to attract men.”Samantha laughed bitterly, as she thought of the army of men waiting below. “I wish not wearing paint was all it took to scare them off. They say Danu never married, and see how happy she is.” Samantha yearned for Danu’s freedom. The long-dead princess was laughing as she galloped across the fields. Danu’s auburn hair flew out behind her in the wind. The stars on the forehead and chest of her horse shone against its gorgeous coat. Samantha loved this painting, which was just as well because it was bolted to the wall and couldn’t be removed without tearing her chambers apart. She’d decorated the rest of her bedroom to match. Tapestries of horses covered the walls. Her dressing table, armoire, and large four-poster bed had horses carved into the woodwork. A quilt, embroidered with horses and stars, was spread over the bed. The mantle over her fireplace sported figurines of horses in gold, silver, jade, crystal, and precious stones. Every new ambassador added to her collection.
Contact Information
Email: jamie-marchant@jamie-marchant.com
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Twitter: @RobrekSamantha
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What the Experts Say: Writer Van Heerling

Van Heerling (& son), Author
MALAIKA and DREAMS OF ELI
Van Heerling joins us today to fill us in on his second novel DREAMS OF ELI – a story about the dreams of a Civil War soldier who wakes in a cave as a prisoner. Van writes to "immerse the reader in the story." When he’s not writing, he has a habit of talking to strangers. Van is also a cat-lover, husband, and father of a one-year old.
Q: Your stories are very different from each other – from a man and his lion friend in MALAIKA to a captured soldier in the American Civil War in DREAMS OF ELI. What inspires your stories? Where do you get your story ideas?
Van Heerling: MALAIKA emerged out of a life-changing dream I had had a few years back. As for DREAMS OF ELI, I have always been interested in the American Civil War. This story came to me with such ease it is difficult to convey. Perhaps I have touched on a past experience, perhaps not.
Q: How significant is the setting for your novels?  For example, in DREAMS OF ELI, how relevant is the setting of the American Civil War to tell your story? Could you have placed two men in a cave at any time period?
Van Heerling: I suppose I could have done that, but I fear it would be a completely different story. If I had placed Ezra and Eli in the French Revolution or during the Plague in England, I don’t think their story would carry well. There is a certain “patina” about the 1800s that caters so well to the plight of Eli, I can’t see him anywhere else.
 Q: How important is delivering a message to your stories?  Or are they purely for entertainment?
Van Heerling: I always have something to say. However I don’t purposely shove my agenda down the reader’s throat. At least I hope that I don’t do this. Somehow the message pours into the story in a way that it weaves in and out of it. My hope is that the reader has that “ahh ha” moment on their own in their own time. I have been asked several times what the message of MALAIKA happens to be. I will never tell. One of my greatest joys is to read and listen to what readers have to say. If you take a look at the reviews for MALAIKA you will find many interpretations.
Q: What do you do to make your characters compelling so that your readers care? Is it more or less difficult to create interesting characters in an historical and/or fantasy setting?
Van Heerling: For me genre doesn’t matter. I do my best to write the character as honest as possible, or I should say as realistic as possible. And when I don’t do this, my editor lets me know.
The number one thing I hear most from my readers is: “I felt like I was there in the story watching everything unfold all around me,” or something to this affect. This is my goal as a writer, to immerse the reader within the story. I want whatever they have conjured up in their minds to hang with them for days after finishing the story. MALAIKA is an emotionally charged novella. It is the kind of story that weighs on you. I once had a reader tell me she was reading the story while waiting for a meeting. She had to run to the restroom to escape the public humiliation of bawling her eyes out. For me as an author, I connected with her. I believe this connection is my job as an author.
Q: Who are your targeted readers? Do they want to be entertained, educated, and/or thrilled?
Van Heerling: I am in my thirties and male. To my surprise I have found an overwhelming response from women 25-65. I embrace this audience with open arms. I have also noticed I have a smaller male audience from 35-60. As far as the entertainment, education, and thrill factors, I would say yes to all of them, but I would add that they seek to connect on a deep emotional level as well.
Q: When you’re not writing, what do you do? Hobbies? Sailing? Knitting? Standup comedy? Favorite music?  Favorite authors? Do you have a muse? Dog or cat person? Tea or coffee? Beer or wine? Comedy or drama? Philosophizing?
Van Heerling: I have a brand new boy, my first and only so far. He just turned one. It was a tough beginning. He was born premature at one pound ten ounces. I am very proud to say he is progressing nicely. He keeps me busy.
 When I am out running around, I have been known to talk to random strangers. I guess this is a hobby, mixed with a bit of philosophizing. Recently I had a twenty-minute conversation with a near homeless Vet. He told me he’d served overseas and didn’t want to talk about it. I didn’t press him but by the end of our conversation he’d told me about a few horrible missions he was involved in. Our talk was a confession of sorts for him. Sometimes we just need someone to listen to us and to do it with an open ear and no judgments. I know I helped him that day. 
About Van Heerling
Van lives in Burbank, California with the lingering spirit of Redford—his adopted morbidly obese cat, which was more of a paperweight than a feisty feline, his wife and boy, and their very alive kitty—Abigail.
Van always enjoys hearing from his readers. If you wish to send your comments you may do so at www.vanheerlingbooks.com 
DREAMS OF ELI
Blurb
http://www.vanheerlingbooks.com/dreams-of-eli.htmlSouthern soldier Eli West wakes in a cave and discovers he is held captive by a soldier of the Union. Shot, drugged, and tortured, he descends into the darkness and the beauty of his unconscious, uncovering a time when he was still in love, a time before war, a time before everything fell away.


Excerpt
May 1863 Eli Age 26
          During a skirmish two days ago, while in retreat, I lost my company. Somewhere in the backwoods of Northern Mississippi I finish a piece of stale bread, stand up, and lay my rifle against my shoulder.         It is not the crack of the enemy Enfield rifle round that startles me. It is the sifting whispers of the bullet as it splits the wild grass in my direction. The shooter, by the sound of it, is between four hundred and five hundred yards off. I know this because I have the same standard issue. The ball strikes me hard in the lower left shin. White searing pain shreds up my leg and body like a thunderbolt.         I stumble. My rifle catches most of my weight as I plow it into the soft earth from where I had just risen. But the shock is too great. I lose  my grip--falling hard and fast to the cool soil where I crush my face against a large granite boulder. The flavors of shattered teeth and metallic blood sour my mouth. But all I can think about is the next eighteen seconds--enough time for my enemy to reload. The shot that I will never hear is upon me. I knew I would die in these woods. I just did not realize I would be alone. But at this end I do not want my brothers next to me. I want Cora. I wait for the final shot, but it never comes. Instead, blackness takes me.
MALAIKA
http://www.vanheerlingbooks.com/malaika.html
A middle-aged man with the crushing weight of his american past seeks peace and a simpler life in rural Kenya. Armed with only his smokes and coffee he discovers a friendship with the most  unlikely of friends--a lioness he rightfully names Malaika (Angel in Swahili). But she is no ordinary lioness nor is he an ordinary man. Between them they share a gift. But not all embrace their bond and some seek to sever it. Discover this new world rich in human truth and sensibility.

Amazon Purchase Link: DREAMS OF ELI

Amazon Purchase Link: MALAIKA
Twitter: @vanheerling   
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Charity: Cause An Uproar   http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/big-cats/cause-an-uproar/
 Website: http://www.vanheerlingbooks.com

Books Make Terrific Holiday Gifts

Books make terrific holiday gifts, but finding perfect books for friends and family is always a challenge. If only we could flip through a few sample pages on our own schedules. If only the bookstore could come to us. Well guess what readers, we’re doing just that!
Twelve amazing authors have come together to offer you an amazing opportunity to sample their latest novels just in time for the holidays—12 awesome samples and quirky holiday-themed interviews in one FREE downloadable PDF.
Whether you like to read mysteries, romance, young adult, women's fiction, or suspense—this group has a book for you.
First Snow – Christine Cunningham
After The Fog - -Kathleen Shoop
A Charming Crime -  Tonya Kappes
Come Back To Me – Melissa Foster
Read Me Dead – Emerald Barnes
The Halo Effect – MJ Rose
Dancing Naked In Dixie – Lauren Clark
The Last Supper Catering Company – Michaelene McElroy
The Hurricane Lover – Joni Rodgers
The Hounding – Sandra de Helen
Milkshake – Joanna Weiss
The Ninth Step – Barbara Taylor SisselEach excerpt is prefaced by information about the book and its author. Concluding each excerpt is an order page with clickable links to several online retailers. You can download the PDF “Holiday Sampler” here http://bit.ly/eBookSamples, and share it with friends by sending them this link: http://bit.ly/eBookSamples.So go ahead and sample these fantastic novels from amazing writers! And don’t forget to help spread the word!Happy holidays and happy reading!

What the Experts Say: Fantasy Author Olivia Martinez

Olivia Martinez, Author
MISTFALL
Fantasy author Olivia Martinez joins us to talk about her fun make-believe world in her new novel MISTFALL. A veteran and mother, Olivia is also a professional artist – meaning that she has sold some of her paintings. You might want to check out the brief excerpt at the end of her interview to appreciate her sense of humor. 


Q) How do you create a make-believe world that is believable and enticing to your readers?
Olivia Martinez: I think trying to make it somewhat believable that the world can exist helps. Keeping it simple helps too. In my world, genies don't live in lamps and they don't grant three wishes. I also used a little bit of history to anchor events that happen in the book.
Q) What writer do you consider writes the best novels in your genre? Why?
Olivia Martinez: I can't pick one or even two, it's impossible. I am, however, getting excited to read the next Karen Marie Moning book.
Q) What do your characters do or say that engage readers? How important is back story to help portray your characters?
Olivia Martinez: The main character, Mags, uses sarcasm as a second language. Though it may be the lowest form of wit, it's entertaining nonetheless. Hailz, a supporting character, has a psychopathic bunny killer type of personality. She's dark and twisted, but you can't hate her and you can't wait to see what horrible thing she does next.
I think the back story is important as it gives you an idea of the general character of the person. Without it you're sort of left with a two dimensional character. You have a general idea of who they are, but the reader can't connect with them to stay interested for too long.
Q) Is humor useful in creating a make-believe world?
Olivia Martinez: I think humor is necessary in any world.
Q) What is different about youth readers? What/how do you write to reach them?
Olivia Martinez: I think the youth my book is made for is definitely 16 years and older. Writing from the mind of a mid-thirties parent wouldn't be their cup of tea. Though I write for the age range of 16 and older, my character is in her mid-twenties. Just old enough for younger women to see themselves in the characters and just young enough for the rest of us to remember ourselves as those characters.
Q) What inspired you to write MISTFALL?  When did you first consider becoming a writer?
Olivia Martinez: Like most people, I've always wanted to write a book. One day I just decided to do it instead of think about it.
I've always liked supernatural, fantasy, and paranormal stories. We read to escape...what better world to run to than one that defies the laws of physics!
Q) Tell us something about yourself, e.g., do you like to read? Eat? Go to plays? What’s your favorite holiday, book, author, character, play, movie, celebrity? What do you do when you’re not writing? Do you have a muse? Do you like dogs or cats? What's your favorite charity?
Olivia Martinez: Oh my goodness. I like to paint and have sold a few paintings. I love Christmas. My house ends up looking like one of the windows of the old Marshall Field's. (I really go all out). I'm a dog person. When I'm not writing, I work as a hair dresser. I love to read. I have a reading habit that can rival a heroin junkie's any day! Let's see, what's left. I can't pick one author or play, I love them all. My favorite movie is Tombstone. Sorry Kevin Kostner, you're no Wyatt Earp.
About Olivia Martinez
Olivia Martinez is a veteran and a mother to a lovely nine year old named Grace. In her spare time she dreams of wintering over in warmer climates. When she's not writing, Olivia runs a blog where she interviews other authors.
MISTFALL
Mags has lived in hiding all of her life. One of the last two jinn of her kind, she's being hunted by one of the Kings of Hades and the menacing Elf King for her power. When one disastrous date sends her on the run, she knows her life will never be the same. The only question is, will she survive it?
Excerpt
Hailz was an Ifrit, the lowest kind of jinn, though not one to be underestimated. Last time I saw her she was a mountain lion. She also happened to be Iblis’s messenger. We had an odd sort of relationship. Neither of us particularly cared for the other, but we weren’t necessarily enemies either.
“How on earth did you get the hamadryad to let you climb up her tree as big as you are?” I questioned.
“She didn’t, but I was getting hungry waiting on you to quit arguing with your boyfriend. My meal came with a seat that had a clear view of you,” Hailz stated without remorse.
Disgust was etched all over my face. “That’s horrible! Hamadryads are peaceful, hardly a challenge.”
She shrugged as best as a snake could. “Fast food.”
Links
Find out more about MISTFALL at:http://www.olivia-m-martinez.blogspot.com
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What the Experts Say: POLITICALLY SPEAKING by Author and TV Reporter/Anchor Tom Abrahams

Tom Abrahams, Author
SEDITION
Author and TV reporter/anchor Tom Abrahams joins us during this election season to talk about his recently-released political thriller SEDITION. Tom has spent the last 20 years covering local, national, and international news. He tells us that the move from covering political news to writing a political thriller was not a big leap. Don't miss the excerpt from his book at the end of this article. 




Politically SpeakingBy Tom Abrahams
For twenty years, I’ve covered politics as a television reporter.
My first job was covering a small county commission.  Later, I was an education reporter, a city hall reporter, and over the last decade I’ve covered virtually every national political happening we’ve experienced.
Politics is inherently thrilling and I’ve always found people incredibly passionate about it. 
It’s fertile ground for a novel.  And writing a political thriller is no different than other strains of suspense.  It all comes down to the plot, the pacing, and the characters taking the reader for a ride.
But the challenge of writing about politics, which makes it different from other kinds of novels, lies in writing one that appeals to all political sensibilities.
Just as in reporting, I’m there to tell the story, not spin it.  If I do, I’ve lost half of the audience.
It’s a lot easier said than done but, with SEDITION, my plan was to tell a plausible, fantastic political story with which all sides could sympathize.
From the book’s cover, masterfully designed by Jason Farmand, you can surmise SEDITION is a book about the Tea Party.   And it is…sort of.
But really it is more about our political climate and how, depending on your myopic perspective, our system is in peril.
That’s something upon which Democrats, Republicans, and Independents can agree. 
The challenge of writing a politically charged thriller, especially in an election year, is finding that balance in the story telling.
I don’t want the reader thinking they’ve read my manifesto.
Instead I want to challenge them to think while they’re being entertained.  That’s why I grounded the story in reality, and filled it with references to history and art.
And just as a good news story is made by the people in it, so is a good book.
As such, I created characters without real political affiliation.  Obviously, some of them are to the far right.  But the others could just as easily be Democrats or Republicans.  I want each reader to identify with at least one of the primary characters, their beliefs, their cause.
SEDITION is a book about the narrow line between patriot and traitor.  It’s a story absent black and white distinctions between the good guys and the bad, just as it is the real world…politically speaking.
About Tom Abrahams
Tom is a Texas television reporter and anchor who has spent 20 years covering local, national, and international news.
He's interviewed Presidents, cabinet members, and leaders in congress. He's reported live from the White House, Capitol Hill, and the United Nations.
Tom's covered five national political conventions. He has flown with presidential candidates, gone backstage at their rallies, and broken stories about them on television and online.
He was at the Pentagon while smoke still rose in the hours after 9/11 and was in the room when Secretary Colin Powell made his case to the U.N. Security Council for war against Iraq.
Tom lives in the Houston suburbs with his wife, Courtney, and their two children.
SEDITION is his first novel. SEDITION
The President of The United States is dead. There is no Vice President to take his place. As the nation slips into a constitutional crisis, a small group of disenfranchised neo-patriots conspire to violently seize power.
They have the will. They already have someone on the inside. And they have the explosives. Standing in their way is a woman who listens to conversations not meant for her to hear. She reads mail not intended for her to see. She knows their intention. But can she stop them in time?

SEDITION is a smart, fast-paced, modern day political novel woven in reality and based on the 1820 British plot, The Cato Street Conspiracy.

It navigates the thin line between good versus evil and patriot versus traitor, proving there’s always a reason behind treason.
Excerpt
Sir Spencer Thomas stirred the Chivas Regal Royal Salute with his left pinkie then sucked the rare liquid from his finger.
He’d saved the fifty year old scotch since 2003 when it was gifted to him at the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Now was as good a time as any to self-medicate with a $10,000 bottle of Strathisla malted scotch.
           From his high back, brown leather chair in his suite at the Hay-Adams Hotel he could see The White House, The Washington Monument, and the 52 inch LCD television alit with coverage of President Foreman’s sudden death. The news was minutes old and already the spin doctors were talking succession.
“The body isn’t even cold yet,” he thought and crossed his legs.
He took a sip from the leaded glass and listened to the commentary on T.V.
“What complicates matters so much,” opined the pundit on the screen “is that the President’s death comes so soon after the prolonged illness and death of the former Vice President. It leaves us with a bit of a constitutional crisis. The replacement nominee is confirmed, but hasn’t taken the oath. Does this mean the Speaker of The House becomes President? Does she take the reins only until V.P. nominee Blackmon is sworn in? Who is in control right now?”
At the bottom of the screen flashed a crawl of announcements. Sir Spencer muted the television as he read the information moving from right to left across the screen.
Wall Street trading suspended after sharp 900 point drop. Mourners gather outside 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Cabinet meets in emergency session in White House. Leadership vacuum not a concern, says Speaker Jackson. Doctors say Foreman’s last checkup revealed no health issues. Aneurysm suspected in President Foreman’s sudden death. Autopsy is scheduled for late tonight with results tomorrow.
Sir Spencer took another sip. The scotch was smooth and it finished with a creamy taste. He stood from the chair, using his left hand to balance his six foot five inch frame as he rose. It was a simple task that had become increasingly difficult with age and indulgence. Sighing slightly, he stepped to the window overlooking the People’s House and thought about the incredible opportunity that fate chose to bestow upon him.
            The possibilities!  
The knight was a man for whom manifest destiny was a deep belief. It did not end with his adopted country’s purchase of Texas, as some historians suggested. It did not end with the Imperialism so many believe the U.S. employed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It was, for him, the idea that America’s place as the world’s foremost military, economic, and social power was ordained in perpetuity. Sir Spencer believed the death of a president and the ensuing uncertainty might be exactly what was needed to regain its authority and rightful place in the hierarchy of nations.
This is what we’ve waited for. This is our opportunity.
Sir Spencer reached into the inside breast pocket of his combed, blue cashmere Kiton jacket. He pulled out his Sigillu encrypted cell phone and punched a series of numbers with his thumb, pressed send, and slipped the phone back into the pocket. “A Deo et Rege,” he murmured as he again lifted the glass to his lips. From God and The King. He could smell the strength of the scotch.

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Special Halloween Interview: Tabitha Short, Author, THE CORPSES OF OLD HILL ROAD

Tabitha Short, Author
THE CORPSES OF OLD HILL ROAD
Horror and young adult fantasy fiction author Tabitha Short joins us to heighten our Halloween experience. Tabitha has written several chilling short stories. Her newest contribution to make you scream is THE CORPSES OF OLD HILL ROAD.  You might want to check out her Book Trailer to put you in the mood. 
Tabitha has also written a young adult fantasy novel scheduled for release next year. When she’s not writing, she works as a Supported Employment Specialist for a mental health agency and is involved with the National Alliance on Mental Illness. In her spare time she likes to hang out with her husband watching movies

Q: What do you consider “horror”?
Tabitha Short: For me a horror story is a combination of appropriate gore and psychological conundrums. I enjoy unsuspected endings.
Q: How do you make your stories such as THE CORPSES OF OLD HILL ROAD “scary”?
Tabitha Short: I include dramatic descriptions to increase visualization. I also invest a lot in character creation and development. I like to make readers identify with the characters so they can feel what they are going through and really get connected with the story. If the reader hasn’t felt something while reading my story then I have failed.
Q: What inspires you to write horror stories?
Tabitha Short: If someone had told me a year ago that today I’d be writing horror stories I’d have laughed. My husband tends to have horrific dreams and shares them with me so the majority of my horror stories have been developed from those.
Q:  I notice that your first novel will be published early 2013.  It is young adult fantasy fiction. Have you crossed out of the horror genre? Or will we see some scary scenes in it, as well?
Tabitha Short:  The fantasy fiction does not include any horror aspects in it, although it does include a murderous scene. I intend to continue writing horror fiction stories, but for the novels I plan to keep them in the fantasy fiction and thriller/mystery genres.
Q: How do you make us care about your characters?
Tabitha Short: My formula for making a reader care about a character is to create characters that the readers can identify with. I give them characteristics that the majority of the population will have. On the reverse side of things, for this story in particular I created a character a reader will love to hate. He is egotistical and arrogant. I can’t stand him and I hope my readers can’t either.
Q: How important is back story? Do you do any research for credibility?
Tabitha Short:  Unless you’re writing a novel a back story is not important at all. For short stories less is always more. One previous short I wrote titled The Please DO Feed the Animals ZOO left out the back story because adding it would have created two problems. First, it would have taken away from the story being told because readers would have to detach themselves from the story to learn another story first. Second it would have made the short story into a long story. However, for novels, it’s best to tell the back story because you have the space and time for it.
Q: Why are you a writer?  When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?
Tabitha Short: I write because I am a storyteller. I’ve always known I wanted to be a writer. I got a lot of awards for writing growing up and it was pretty much the only thing I was good at. I went to college on journalism scholarships and spent a lot time editing and writing articles.
About Tabitha Short
Tabitha Short is the writer of many horror short stories including The Roller Coaster of Death (found in the compilation titled Misery Loves Company) and The Please DO Feed The Animals ZOO. Her YA novel, Arena Games: Petrova's Legacy, is contracted and due for publication January 19, 2013. You can purchase her books at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and smashwords.com as well as at her author website at http://www.authortabithashort.blogspo.... Tabitha also operates the literary blog The First Five Pages.
THE CORPSES OF OLD FARM HILL ROAD: THE ARROGANT MAN
BOOK TRAILER LINK


He wakes up every morning knowing the world owes him something. Every woman was created for his demand, except for Vanessa Roundtree and her mother. Once lured onto their farm in the middle of nowhere he becomes their prey. As they torment his body, they break down his arrogance. Will he be able to escape? Or will he become just another of the corpses of Old Farm Hill Road?
Excerpt
His face lit up as his hand gripped the handle of the car door. His entire body felt relief and his chest rattled with cries of happiness. He pulled the handle and the familiar sound of the car door opening that met his ears brought an unsurpassable amount of joy. He climbed into the driver’s seat, arranging his broken leg with his unbroken arm. It was excruciating, but he had to get through it to get away. He was almost there. Sweat beaded up on his forehead and he prayed he wouldn’t pass out again. He just needed a few more hours of consciousness to get out alive.
As his breaths slowed he felt his way to the ignition switch to start the engine. His heart sank when he discovered the keys were not in the ignition. No worries, I can hot wire it, he said to himself. The wiring was easy to find, hidden behind an access cover. Fumbling with the wires because of his swollen fingers, he quickly found the two he needed. Bending forward was agonizing, but he managed it and used his teeth to strip the wires. He twisted the copper strands together and found the purple wire. It gave him a little bit of trouble, but he was able to skin the plastic covering from it as well.
He heard a loud clunk on the hood of the car and his head jerked to attention. Standing in front of the vehicle was Vanessa. She was jingling the keys in her hand.
"YouÖareÖoneÖstupid girl," he said aloud, most of it coming out as nothing more than mumbles. He hit the wires together and the engine stuttered and then came to life. He laughed heartily, his chest rising and falling painfully. He glanced out the front windshield, ready to enjoy the look on the stupid girl’s face, but she was not there. His fingers quickly moved to lock the doors just as he heard her grip the handle. She was at his driver’s side window.
Her face grew angry when she could not open the door. She removed her shirt, wrapped it around her fist and began hitting the driver’s side window, trying to bust it. Mathew put the car in reverse, looked over his shoulder and began to back down the driveway. He was free! As the car rolled down the curved driveway, Vanessa ran after it. He laughed out loud and considered running her over, but thought against it as he neared the end of the driveway.
Links
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Where-to-Buy Links
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What the Experts Say: Pakistani Author Mian Mohsin Zia

Mian Mohsin Zia, Author
THE STRANGE LOYALIST, VICTIM OF SHAME, and ONCE
Pakistani author Mian Mohsin Zia joins us to discuss writing for an international audience across several genres -- romance, thriller and suspense.  He has published three novels, and endeavors to write “meaningful fiction.”
 Q:  When you’re not writing or teaching, what do you do? Hobbies? Sailing? Knitting? Standup comedy? Favorite music?  Favorite authors? Do you have a muse?

Mian Mohsin Zia: I am a Marketing specialist, therefore I am either busy with work or writing or focusing on my exercise in the gym.
I love exercise, it’s my favorite hobby, along with listening to good music and watching movies.
I like Burl Barer. He is an Edgar award winner and New York Times best-selling author. He has written several books and articles. My favorite article by Burl Barer is “The Day My Father Apologized”.
Q: What inspired you to write? And what inspired you to write your genre?
Mian Mohsin Zia: My first book, THE STRANGE LOYALIST was inspired by true events and that got me into writing. Above all, I believe that “when you are destined to achieve something you do achieve it”.
I don’t think that I should be associated or tagged to a particular genre, because so far I’ve written romance, thriller and suspense novels. I want to be an author who writes in multiple genres. Like an actor tries romance, suspense, or comedy, similarly I want to experiment and come up with something new and different for my readers. I endeavor to touch the hearts of the readers so that they can cherish the story and message long after they are done reading.
Q: You write for an international audience. Do you do anything special to assure your stories are universal?
Mian Mohsin Zia: Yes, I do write for an international audience, and the rule of thumb is to write from your heart. There are always a few niggles here and there. All you need to do is to try to be creative and realistic. People have the same emotions and feelings worldwide. All you need to do is to present them in an international way keeping in mind the diverse cultures and their values.
Q: You write your books to be exciting AND to deliver a message. How do you manage to do both?  Back story? Through your characters?
Mian Mohsin Zia: I endeavor to write meaningful fiction; a book that leaves you thinking once you are done reading. I want readers to get something from my books. If they pay to buy it then it’s my prime responsibility to deliver them entertainment that is worth their money.
That’s the reason why I offer not just the words themselves, but custom poems, a unique story, a custom picture gallery, an international product and above all a meaningful book. So everyone should get something from the book. I try to do it through my plot and characters.
Q: How do you make your characters compelling? What makes us care about them? Are they based on real people?
Mian Mohsin Zia: When you write from your heart then the story and characters do become compelling and readers do get involved in the story. Feel your characters, visualize the scenes in your mind before you write them and you would be able to make them realistic.
Q: Why do you illustrate your protagonist? I tend to favor allowing the reader to envision my characters based on their own imaginations.  You specifically illustrate your protagonist. Why?
Mian Mohsin Zia: To stand out from the crowd, to give readers something unique and different, one needs to come up with unique marketing strategies. One needs to present his work in a way that grabs the attention of the readers. That is why my books have been great entertainers and have given readers a movie experience while they are reading my book.
That is why, my book ONCE is being considered to be made into a movie by Mr. Burl Barer (Edgar award winner and New York times best-selling author, USA), J.S. Chancellor aka Breanne Braddy (Author, USA) and other professionals and readers worldwide.
Like in a movie, you get a custom background score, or custom song, according to the situation. In my book, you’ll get a custom poem. You will get the pictures of important scenes from the book. You will get an international product, which people from all parts of the world can relate to. You will get entertainment and a message that is not preachy but worth pondering.
You need not to offer just a book but to offer a package. People are more inclined to buy packages.
The competition is stiff and if one can’t give something unique every now and then you don’t deserve to be in this field. I believe that “Life is a circus and MIAN likes to perform when it’s a full house.”
Q: Who are your targeted readers and what are they looking for?
Mian Mohsin Zia: Every person, no matter whether they are young or old, is a part of my targeted readers. I write books for people of all age groups. Every reader who looks for entertainment and a solid book is my targeted reader. That is why I have received great reviews from readers from different parts of the world and from all different walks of life.
Even a high school student or a University graduate, a girl next door or a granny in the apartment above yours, all can enjoy and read my books. I think that is the class of an author that he can entertain and keep his readers engaged through his powerful story, characters and plot.
We all live in a real world and people like real and solid books.
Q: In your opinion, what are the most important elements of a good story?
Mian Mohsin Zia: Everything depends upon the story. Even in a movie, everything is dependent upon the story. When people watch a movie, no matter who the actor is or how the songs and scenes are depicted, unless the story is powerful and compelling it won’t work.
At the end of the day it is a story that is shared in the movie that needs to work with the audience.
For a good story one needs to focus on the uniqueness of the plot, thorough research, creativity and how well you depict the scenes.
Q: What tips would you give to others considering a career in writing?
Mian Mohsin Zia: I believe that no matter whatever level you reach in life getting better never stops. I myself am in the phase of learning to get better day by day. Therefore, all I can say is to write from your heart. Do something today for which you are thankful tomorrow. Maybe the book you write today makes you famous. Therefore when you are writing, write from inside.
Q: What’s next?
Mian Mohsin Zia: I have a few projects in the pipeline but don’t know which one will come first.·      Autobiography of My Evil Deeds·      One Woman Man·      Missing
Q: Do you have anything else to add?
Mian Mohsin Zia: I thank everyone who read my books and shared their feedback on them. I kindly request that you share your reviews and star ratings about my books. Your reviews and ratings are very important to me.
Sincere thanks,
Much Love MIAN!
I love you all.



About Mian Mohsin Zia
Mian Mohsin Zia aka "M I A N---No Time for Love" is a brilliant, humble and dedicated author obsessed with writing great books.
He is an Internationally acclaimed Pakistani author and his books have been rated 4 and 5 stars on Amazon and other sales channels. He has set new trends worldwide in novel writing with his books.
New York Times bestseller & Edgar Award winner author Mr. Burl Barer refers to Mian Mohsin Zia as "the brightest light on Pakistan's new literary horizon."

ONCE
What would you do if you hurt the woman you loved beyond what is in human nature to forgive? That is the problem that Morkel has to overcome. As the celebrated author, 'M---, No Time for Love', Morkel has vowed to never write a love story, or a story with a female protagonist. A staunch bachelor, Morkel is set in his ways; he has vowed to never fall in love. However, during a holiday in Kiev Morkel meets a 'person of interest'; someone who will change his life forever. Though, as his name suggests, he still has 'no time for love'.

Unfortunately, as he is about to learn, love has time for him and it has come knocking at the door of his heart. Will he open the door or ignore the knocking? Will he abandon the title he has worked so hard to create, and, by so doing, forge for himself a new title and destiny?

How long can love wait for Morkel?

How long will Morkel wait for love?
VICTIM OF SHAME
"Mian is the brightest light on Pakistan's new literary horizon." -- Burl Barer, Edgar Award winner and New York Times best-selling author.

In a world of lightning fast communication, one mistake can transcend time; destroy lives....or save your soul.

Deception, resentment, madness, and vengeance -- Ryan Campbell may be famous, but his life is a living hell.

Ryan Campbell is a tireless champion of women's rights. His dedication unquestioned; his deeds exemplary. There is only one problem. In his inmost heart of hearts, Ryan Campbell hates women. Every battle for gender equality is a battle against his own resentments and ingrained prejudices. The greater his deeds, the deeper his shame. Confused and full of unrest, Ryan has only one question he can ask: "Why me, God?"

Sarah was a normal young woman. She was almost through with her degree and was engaged to be married. With the simple click of a button, her life changed forever. Now, abandoned by those whom she once called friends, she can only ask the question: "Why me, God?"

With insight, compassion and an acute sense of human drama, Mian explores the delicate balance between hypocrisy and redemption. Compelling, gripping, and filled with mystery, 'Victim of Shame' will spark endless conversations, arguments, and discussions.

"'Victim of Shame' gives hope where there is none. Mian creates characters you can really feel for." -- Julie Achterhoff, Author-USA.

"'Victim of Shame' weaves a tale of faith, adversity and strength, landing individuals on paths they never thought possible." -- Ellen M. DuBois, Author-USA.
THE STRANGE LOYALIST
This book is inspired by true events and based upon real people, places and events.
Out of many, Mike Zander is the one: the only one. He had fame, love, success and admiration; he hated them all. He lost everything he ever had for a sister that was never his; one that slipped through his fingers like one slipped on bloody tiles. Scars of loyalty seared themselves into his soul; scars that force him to remember them when he only wishes to forget; he left them many years ago, but still, they follow him. How long will they continue to pester the present and fiddle with his future?
Mike Zander is a loyalist; caring about others more than he does about himself. Having applied and been accepted into the most prestigious educational institute the country has to offer, Mike enters the quixotic world of SOS. SOS - the prestigious School of Scholars or, as Mike quickly learns to rename it, the School of Scoundrels. It is here he learns how easily the outside beauty of people can mask their inner ugliness and infestations, and how the exact opposite can apply. It is here, at SOS, that he learns to determine in whom to put his trust and whom to avoid.
It is at SOS that he observes the death of his sister and is arrested as her murderer.Upon his exit from jail, Mike vows to find her murderer, yet who is the woman who bears his sister's exact name? Mike has to find the answer to this question and many more before his revenge is complete. Mike, as said, is a loyalist. What are you? Will you journey with Mike and find out whether you are a loyalist like him or a quixotic like the rest of the campus population?
Links
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Special Guest Post: JOURNALISTS DON'T (USUALLY) MAKE STUFF UP by Journalist & Author Sárka-Jonae Miller

Sárka-Jonae Miller, Author
BETWEEN BOYFRIENDS
Sárka-Jonae Miller joins us today on her blog tour.  She is a prolific health and fitness writer who has published more than 4000 articles. She has just released her first novel - BETWEEN BOYFRIENDS- a fun coming-of-age story.  In the following article, she tells us how her career as a journalist expedited her transition to novelist. For more information on her blog tour and prizes, please see the link at the end of the post.  


Journalists Don’t (Usually) Make Stuff UpBy Sárka-Jonae Miller
Sophie Kinsella, Many aspiring writers think they can slap together a novel in no time, send it out to publishers, and BAM have a huge advance, adoring fans and a dozen offers to turn their brilliant debut effort into a hit movie. The reality is that writing a novel takes time and significant effort. Writing for print publications or websites helps to pay the bills, improve your writing skills, strengthen your research skills, and connect with people who could help you later when your books get published.
The journalism program I went through strongly emphasized editing skills and correct grammar, which frankly many new writers need. When you write for online or print publications, you are expected to turn in articles that require very little to no editing. People who are not journalists, English teachers or editors are not held to as high of standards for their writing. When they sit down to write a novel, they may produce a great story with wonderful characterization that is also filled with typos and grammar errors. Literary agents and publishers do not have the time to edit manuscripts like they once did. When I sent Between Boyfriends out to literary agents, one of the positive responses I heard often was that my novel, compared to other manuscripts, was refreshingly low on mistakes. A background in journalism makes a huge difference in writing with fewer errors.
Writing articles is not that different from novels in some ways. You have to come up with a beginning that grabs the reader's attention. You have to tell a complete story. Articles have to be outlined, structured, and researched just like books. Instead of inserting helpful pieces of dialogue, you include interesting quotes from sources. This helped me while writing dialogue for BETWEEN BOYFRIENDS because I had a relatively easy time deciding when my characters should talk versus when to simply narrate.
Experience with magazine or online writing is particularly helpful for writing novels because you have more freedom to write with a colorful, conversational tone. Of course magazine writing is much more formal than creative writing, newspapers even more so. Your job as a journalist is to the story based on facts and research, not create the story that you want to tell as you do in fiction.
My journalism degree and the thousands of articles I have written have helped me to convince people to read my novel who otherwise may not have given me the time of day. There are many wonderful new writers out there, so many that most readers, reviewers and publishers are not willing to give them a chance unless something about them stands out. A successful writing career is still a successful writing career. Pair writing, editing and research skills with creativity and imagination and you have a great novelist.
Details on Blog Tour Giveaway
For details about Sárka-Jonae Miller's blog tour giveaway and how you can win an autographed copy of Janet Evanovich's novel Motor Mouth or a signed picture of American Idol star Lauren Alaina, check out her blog.

More on BETWEEN BOYFRIENDS, Sárka-Jonae Miller, and Links
BETWEEN BOYFRIENDS

Jan Weston is boy crazy, emphasis on crazy, but when "the one" breaks her heart she vows to change. Jan quits dating and takes a hard look at herself, discovering that she does not like the flawed, spoiled individual she sees in the mirror.
Her progress toward positive change is derailed when her mother discovers she dropped out of San Diego State University to attend massage therapy school. Furious at being lied to, Mrs. Weston cuts Jan off. Now Jan is without a guy, her American Express card, and a way to pay for school. She has to do something so despicable, so vile, so cruel, she almost cannot imagine it: Jan has to get a job.
But maybe that is exactly what she needs? Jan is forced to change how she treats people and to reconsider her values. Through a "comedy of errors" and with the support of her real friends (plus the hottie from massage school) Jan is able to survive, barely. But can she really change or is she just between boyfriends?
About Sárka-Jonae Miller
Sárka-Jonae is both a novelist and a health and fitness writer. She has more than 4,000 articles published online and in print. She is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.Before writing full-time, Sárka-Jonae was a personal fitness trainer and massage therapist. In her free time, Sarka-Jonae likes to do flash mobs and find her way into music video shoots. She has appeared in the Michael Jackson videos "Hold My Hand" and "Hollywood Tonight." She also practices kung fu and yoga.Sárka-Jonae is an avid traveler. She has visited Costa Rica, Canada, England, Mexico, and Paradise Island. She has also been to France and Thailand researching her next books.She lives in San Diego with a menagerie, including two cats, two dogs and a horse.

LinksAmazonAmazon UKGoodreadsAuthor website  My Blog@boyfriendsnovel@sarkajonae

What the Experts Say: Contemporary Fiction Author Rose Dunphy

Rose Dunphy, Author
ORANGE PEELS AND COBBLESTONES

Please welcome Contemporary Fiction Author Rose Dunphy. She has just released ORANGE PEELS AND COBBLESTONES, a love story and a coming-of-age novel based on her personal experience. Of special interest – to me, at least— she loves two of my favorite things – Italian food and Broadway plays.


Joyce: What inspired you to write ORANGE PEELS AND COBBLESTONES?
Rose Dunphy: ORANGE PEELS AND COBBLESTONES is based on a real event that happened to me. When I was ten and living in Italy, my mother put me on a plane to travel alone to New York to be adopted by an aunt and uncle I had never met. The event traumatized me and haunted me the rest of my life. The only way to heal from it was to write about it.
Writing the book was very therapeutic for me. I always liked to write. I’d already had some publication success with a number of personal essays and timely articles published in Newsday, The New York Times and The Christian Science Monitor, so I began the story that I knew was inside, the one that kept tugging at my heart.
You might ask: Why didn’t I write the book as a memoir if it’s about my life?
Memoirs are the rage nowadays. Well, there are several reasons:  First, I really wanted to write a novel because the theme of the book – how does a mother give up her own child? – interested me more than writing about myself.  As a novel, the book would have fictional names and fictional characters without affecting the story. 
Second, I wanted to be as objective as I could and a memoir doesn’t allow that.Third, even as a work of fiction, the story demanded I write it in third person.  Writing in first person was too close to me. I tried and couldn’t do it. So a memoir was out of the question. 
And last, I didn’t want to be sued. Writing the book as a novel protected me from anyone accusing me of libel or defamation of character. Author Natalie Goldberg says if you’re afraid someone might identify with any of your characters, give that character a small penis or a flat chest or flabby thighs.  Then they won’t be so willing to identify with the character.  I could have done that but none of the characters called for it.
Joyce: Why did you choose the title, ORANGE PEELS AND COBBLESTONES?  I really like it. Having lived in Italy for a year, it just reminds me of there. 
Rose Dunphy: Deciding on a title was problematic for me.  At first, I had Coming to America.  Then it was A Time to Say Goodbye, then Orange Peels and Cobblestones and last, Marietta’s Legacy.  My sister describes not sleeping because titles floated through her mind all night.  In the end, I went back to Orange Peels and Cobblestones.  The first two titles were much used and Marietta’s Legacy seemed cerebral and nondescript. 
ORANGE PEELS AND COBBLESTONES is much warmer and more emotional. You can see the orange color of the peels and the gray of the cobblestones. You can feel the smoothness and softness of the peels and the hardness and unevenness of the stones.  You can hear the sound the orange peel makes if you drop or throw it and you can hear the sound of cobblestones against your shoes when you walk on it. Anyone reading the book will recognize the many references to orange peels and cobblestones throughout the story and I hope will conclude, as I did, that this title fits best.
Joyce: Do you base your characters on real people? 
Rose Dunphy: Yes, to some extent.  I take some characteristics from one person and blend them with those of another to create a new being.
Joyce:  You have written and published non-fiction articles and a book. Did you find it easy to make the transition from non-fiction to fiction? What was different?
Rose Dunphy: No problem at all. The same elements of good writing apply. Start with a slant to get the reader hooked. Then develop it by using the senses to describe scenes, thus, showing rather than telling.
Joyce:  Who are your targeted readers?
Rose Dunphy: Women probably would make up the bulk of my audience but I’ve had men read excerpts of my novel and really love it.  People who love to read of all ages would enjoy my writing.  
Joyce: How did you research the back story for the different locations in ORANGE PEELS AND COBBLESTONES, e.g., post-war Italy, Brooklyn during the 1950s, NY and southern California during the 1960s?
Rose Dunphy: Since it is based on personal experience, I just pictured the scenes from my past and described what I saw. I had to check on certain facts of the time period I was writing about, and I used the internet for that.
Joyce: What’s the most important “message” in your novel?
Rose Dunphy: How does a mother give up her child? 
Joyce: Tell us something about yourself
Rose Dunphy: I love to read.  My favorite food, naturally, is Italian.  I love plays, too.  Since we live on Long Island, my husband and I visit NYC often to see Broadway shows.  I also love to cook, sew and garden.  The cooking reminds me of my mother and grandmother.  The sewing reminds me of my mother-in-law whom I was lucky enough to love like a mother because she treated me with great love.  These activities soothe my soul and I’m left feeing recreated.
Joyce: Oh, we have a lot in common. I love Italian food and Broadway shows – a lot.  Thank you for taking the time to share information about you and your book.


About ORANGE PEELS AND COBBLESTONES
From her early childhood days in Italy to her life as a young wife and mother in Brooklyn, Marietta is haunted by hard questions from her past. In her struggle to be free, she realizes what she must do: discover the truth about her tangled family life even at the risk of losing the little she has left. This is a deeply moving novel about the enduring power of love amidst abandonment, rejection, betrayal and the consequences of others’ decisions.
About Rose Dunphy
Rose Marie Dunphy lived in Italy and now resides in New York. With a Master’s Degree from Stony Brook University, she taught Science for 10 years, co-authoredThat First Bite – Chance or Choice, a book of non-fiction, and has written numerous essays and short stories that have appeared in The New York Times, Newsday and other publications. This is her first novel.
Links
To purchase a book, contact the author at orangepeelsandcobblestones@gmail.com.  Blog Facebook

What the Experts Say: Interview with Suspense/Thriller Author Emerald Barnes

Emerald Barnes, Author
Piercing Through the Darkness
Today we are speaking with Suspense/Thriller Author Emerald Barnes. Emerald has written two books and is an avid blogger, but today she is focusing on Piercing Through the Darkness. This thriller follows a young woman whose memory has suppressed an event. Unfortunately the young woman is taking a class from the professor who she has somehow wronged, and he wants her dead.

Joyce: What inspired you to write about a character with a repressed memory?
Emerald Barnes: While in college, I was taking a psychology class, and we were studying repressed memories and hypnosis.  I was also in search of a story idea for my creative writing course.  I had an idea of a man trying to kill a girl and accusing her of committing a crime she didn’t believe she had committed.  It just kind of hit me in psychology class about how someone would act if they had repressed a memory.  But better than that, how would the victim act if they thought the one with repressed memories didn’t care what they had done.  So, it kind of developed from that train of thought. 
Joyce: How did you apply your research/background information to make your story credible? 
Emerald Barnes: That’s tough because most people don’t believe that repressed memories are “real.”  How could one person really repress something so horrific?  So, I did research on hypnosis and repressed memories, and I hoped that it all came out correctly when I wrote it. 
Joyce: In your opinion, what are the most important elements of a good story?
Emerald Barnes: A good plot, no plot holes, and something that will keep me reading until I can no longer see straight!  I don’t like too much description because I feel like it breaks up intensity of the story, and I always want authors to make me keep guessing at what is going on. 
Joyce: When you’re not writing or teaching, what do you do?
Emerald Barnes: When I’m not writing, I am thinking about writing. 
Seriously though, you can find me being wrestled down on the ground by my nieces and nephews or with a book or my Kindle in my hand if I’m not watching Doctor Who, Castle, Vampire Diaries, Revolution, Dexter, etc etc.  The list of favorite shows will go on and on.  I LOVE TV! 
Sometimes, if I’m not completely swamped by other things, you can find me crocheting a blanket I’ve been working on for two years now.
I love music, but I don’t have a favorite artist.  I mostly listen to Christian music, but sometimes I listen to rock or pop rock.  Sometimes country.  It just depends on my mood.
My favorite authors are too many to name!  But I can tell you that Dean Koontz was my inspiration for starting the writing process to begin with. 
I am a dog person!  I have a beautiful basset hound named George that is my baby!
Joyce: What does freedom mean to your characters?
Emerald Barnes: Freedom to my characters means finding release from the tragedy that happened in the book, Piercing Through the Darkness.  Kandi has already found freedom when the book starts.  She has repressed the memories of the horrible accident, but Jonathan, the man whose life was shattered, hasn’t found anything resembling relief.  He wants it though, and when he finds out that Kandi is pretending nothing has ever happened, he finds that freedom by seeking out revenge. Jimmy, Kandi’s best friend, is in search of freedom from that accident because he feels like it’s his fault to begin with.   
Speaking of “Free”…
 Click Here

 More on Piercing Through the Darkness, Emerald Barnes, and Links

About Piercing Through the Darkness
It’s on the edge of her memory like a word on the tip of her tongue, but Kandi can’t remember what it is to save her life.


Despite being a cop, Jimmy can’t protect Kandi from the one thing that haunts her. She’s in danger and doesn’t even know it. After it happened, her brain repressed her memories of the accident, and now, she’s taking a Biology class under a man who wants to see her dead. The memories have started coming back, and it feels like she’s miles away from him. How can he protect her when she doesn’t even know she needs protecting?
Can these characters pierce their way through the darkness?


Excerpt
"How Does She Do It?" in Piercing Through the Darkness. 
Tony asked, “What’re we gonna do?”Jimmy said, “I’m not sure.  I’ve been thinkin’ about it a lot today, but I haven’t come up with anything.  If we tell her, she’ll be devastated again, and we all know how bad that was the first time.”“Her forgetting was a blessin’,” Aaralyn added.Jimmy nodded in agreement.  Tony sat there.  He wondered what the ex-National Guardsman was thinking.“What if he tries to get revenge or something?” Aaralyn asked before taking a bite of her food. “That’s what I’ve been thinkin’.  You know he has to hate her.”She nodded.“I just can’t figure it out.  Sometimes I think we made a mistake lettin’ her forget.”“You know what happened when we brought it up, Jimmy,” Aaralyn reminded him.Jimmy nodded, and Mrs. Aaralyn stared at her food remembering the day Kandi forgot.  Kandi had woken  up one morning happy which wasn’t normal after what had just happened.  For months after the accident, she’d been like a zombie.  She never smiled and barely acknowledged anyone.  She was hardly passing her classes at school.  She didn’t care anymore, and honestly, he would’ve been the same way.  Even he felt guilty for what happened. Tony said, “We can’t tell her.”Startled out of his memories, Jimmy stared back at Tony like Aaralyn was.  “How come?” she asked.“Our daughter is normal again.  Do you want to go through that again?”They all had a hard time dealing with it.  Jimmy didn’t want her to go back to the way she’d been when she found out, but he didn’t want to risk her life to keep her normal.“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Jimmy asked.He didn’t want to square off with her dad, but he was still questioning Tony’s judgment.“Jimmy, you know as well as we do that Kandi can’t handle what happened.”“But it happened!   She has to accept it.”“Why do you want her to know so badly?”“I don’t.  I think that it’s dangerous for her not to know.”“Has he threatened her?” “Not that I know of, but she’s getting this weird vibe from him.  Don’t you think she ought to know the reason why?” “Absolutely not.  Until there’s more of a threat, I think we should leave things the way they are.”No one said anything after that.  It was as if whatever Tony said was what they would do.  Jimmy still wasn’t sure if Tony was right in his assumptions or not.  Maybe things were best to leave them as they were for the time being.  Maybe Jimmy was being paranoid after all.  He was worrying about her like he always did.
About Emerald Barnes
Emerald Barnes graduated with a B.A. in English with an emphasis on Creative Writing at Mississippi University for Women.  She resides in a small town in Mississippi and has the accent to prove it. 

She's the author of two books.  She mainly writes suspense/thrillers in the YA genre, but she dabbles in other genres and her books are enjoyed by all ages! 

She's constantly working on new novels and has more ideas than she knows what to do with.  She blogs at yaindie.com,emeraldbarnes.blogspot.com and ebarnes23.wordpress.com which takes up more of her time than she anticipates but loves it so very much!  She's also a volunteer at the World Literary Cafe which is so amazing!

She's an auntie to two beautiful nieces and two handsome nephews who take up the other half of her time, but she couldn't imagine spending her time in any other way! 

She's a Whovian, a little bit of a nerd, a reader, a writer, and a family-oriented person.  


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